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ACT Budget released

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Budget includes scope for 20 brand new buses

A new City Loop service in Canberra and 20 new buses for Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are some of the allowances under the recently released ACT Budget 2016-17.

The new investment includes a new, free City Loop bus service in Civic, an electric bus trial, new bus services in Weston Creek and Molonglo, a new Park and Ride facility in Wanniassa, and improvements to the Woden bus interchange and a new bus depot in Woden.

The City Loop will start on in July to coincide with the new Transport Canberra agency.

Transport Canberra will be responsible for integrating buses with the new light rail, developing a single ticketing system and new coordinated timetabling, active travel upgrades and transport innovation.

 The City Loop is one of the ways the ACT Government is making public transport more frequent and easier to use, with a strong focus on the customer.

“The ACT Government is improving transport for Canberrans, wherever they live. The free Transport Canberra City Loop is another way the ACT Government is funding better public transport. The service will be frequent and free, and allow people to get from one part of our city to another in a really convenient way,” says Minister for Transport and Municipal Services Meegan Fitzharris.

“Further demonstrating our commitment to exploring sustainable forms of public transport, we will also run a 12 month trial of up to three electric buses. This is a great initiative and one I think Canberrans will be really excited about.”

The City Loop will provide a ‘turn up and go’ weekday service for commuters and will connect with high frequency Red and Blue Rapid services and buses to the Parliamentary Triangle.

The service will support local businesses and help Canberrans travel around popular areas in the CBD for free.

In addition to the City Loop, the ACT Government will invest $900,000 for an electric bus trial. The buses will be used on regular route services, on and off peak, across the bus network. The trial will enable the ACT Government to assess the viability of using electric buses within the bus network.

The Budget will offer better services in growing suburbs to make it even easier for people to choose public transport including including $900,000 for a 12-month trial of up to three electric buses on regular on- and off-peak route services.

 “These significant investments are part of the ACT Government’s commitment through Transport Canberra to improve our public transport system so it is more convenient, efficient, affordable and reliable – a genuine alternative to driving,” says Fitzharris.

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